Want to Train Smarter in 2026? Do This, Not That

joeodpt
Jan 19
2 min read

New year... new program? New gym? New activity?

Every January, gyms get busier, motivation spikes, and people dive headfirst into heavy lifts, new goals, and aggressive routines. And then… about 3 weeks in, I start getting messages like:

“My knees are acting up again.”

“I think I ramped up too fast.”

“How do I know if I’m overtraining or just sore?”

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to choose between progress and injury prevention.

You just have to train a little smarter.

Let’s break it down:

❌ Don’t: Jump into a new program at full volume

✅ Do: Ramp up with intention

Your body needs time to adapt to load. Even if your mind is ready to go full throttle, your joints, tendons, and tissues won’t respond that fast.

Start by:

Reducing volume (fewer sets/reps) during Week 1
Prioritizing quality over quantity
Taking an honest inventory of what your body’s ready for, not just what you want it to do

❌ Don’t: Assume pain means progress

✅ Do: Understand the difference between hurt and harm

That familiar post-leg-day soreness? Fine. A sharp pinch in your shoulder during bench press? Not fine.

If you’re not sure whether you’re just sore or flirting with injury, step back and assess. One of the fastest ways to derail progress is pushing through something that needs attention.

Need a refresher? Check out this post on Hurt vs. Harm

❌ Don’t: Only chase PRs

✅ Do: Build capacity

The real goal isn’t just hitting a one-rep max, it’s building a base that holds up under life. Progress isn’t just about adding weight.

You can:

Slow the tempo
Add a pause
Train unilateral strength
Improve mobility and stability under load

These build durability, which means fewer setbacks and more consistency over time.

❌ Don’t: Skip recovery

✅ Do: Treat recovery like training

Sleep, hydration, mobility, and nutrition are not “extras". They’re part of your program!

If you’re lifting 3–4x/week and not getting 7–8 hours of sleep, you’re leaving progress on the table. You can’t out-train poor recovery.

The Bottom Line

Most New Year training injuries aren’t just bad luck, they come about because too much is being done, too fast, with too little support.

The fix? Train smarter. Be consistent. Get help before things snowball.

At OLO Physical Therapy and Wellness, I help people build strong, resilient bodies that hold up all year. Want to start this year strong and stay injury-free? Let’s set up a session and build a plan that works for you.

To a strong 2026,

Joe